Xcel Energy vs Fortis: why the prices moved differently

Weekly · monthly · quarterly news summaries, side by side in time

Xcel Energy Inc (XEL)

Q3 202623 Jul – 6 Oct 2026

▲3

Xcel's growth story: data centers, big spending, small Michigan exit

AI data centers become a real demand driver Xcel signed a Google data center power deal in Minnesota, and Goldman Sachs raised its 2030 data center forecast to 217 GW, naming Xcel a favored utility. More data centers mean more electricity sold and more grid built, which grows the rate base Xcel earns a regulated return on.
This is the main new force lifting Xcel's long-term earnings outlook.
Q2 beat and $70B+ investment plan confirmed Xcel earned $0.93 per share, beating estimates, and said it can now see the full $70-plus billion five-year investment plan, with $6 billion already spent this year and 85% of its equity funding need addressed. Big approved spending usually means steady earnings growth.
Confirms the capital plan is funded and on track, the core of the bull case.
Dividend kept steady, board adds airline executive The board declared its usual 59.25-cent quarterly dividend, payable October 20, signaling financial health. It also added Delta president Peter Carter as a director, bringing large-operations experience. Neither changes the story much, but both support confidence in management.
Shows shareholder returns intact and governance steady, a mild positive.
Small Michigan exit frees focus but shrinks footprint Xcel agreed to sell its tiny Michigan gas and electric businesses (about 15,000 customers total) to SEMCO and UPPCO, pending regulator approval. It is a minor cleanup that lets Xcel concentrate spending on bigger territories, but it slightly reduces its customer base.
The only negative-leaning item, though small; shows a real counterweight.

August 202623 Jul – 6 Oct 2026

▲3

Xcel's growth story: data centers, big spending, small Michigan exit

AI data centers become a real demand driver Xcel signed a Google data center power deal in Minnesota, and Goldman Sachs raised its 2030 data center forecast to 217 GW, naming Xcel a favored utility. More data centers mean more electricity sold and more grid built, which grows the rate base Xcel earns a regulated return on.
This is the main new force lifting Xcel's long-term earnings outlook.
Q2 beat and $70B+ investment plan confirmed Xcel earned $0.93 per share, beating estimates, and said it can now see the full $70-plus billion five-year investment plan, with $6 billion already spent this year and 85% of its equity funding need addressed. Big approved spending usually means steady earnings growth.
Confirms the capital plan is funded and on track, the core of the bull case.
Dividend kept steady, board adds airline executive The board declared its usual 59.25-cent quarterly dividend, payable October 20, signaling financial health. It also added Delta president Peter Carter as a director, bringing large-operations experience. Neither changes the story much, but both support confidence in management.
Shows shareholder returns intact and governance steady, a mild positive.
Small Michigan exit frees focus but shrinks footprint Xcel agreed to sell its tiny Michigan gas and electric businesses (about 15,000 customers total) to SEMCO and UPPCO, pending regulator approval. It is a minor cleanup that lets Xcel concentrate spending on bigger territories, but it slightly reduces its customer base.
The only negative-leaning item, though small; shows a real counterweight.

Latest23 Jul – 6 Oct 2026

▲3

Xcel's growth story: data centers, big spending, small Michigan exit

AI data centers become a real demand driver Xcel signed a Google data center power deal in Minnesota, and Goldman Sachs raised its 2030 data center forecast to 217 GW, naming Xcel a favored utility. More data centers mean more electricity sold and more grid built, which grows the rate base Xcel earns a regulated return on.
This is the main new force lifting Xcel's long-term earnings outlook.
Q2 beat and $70B+ investment plan confirmed Xcel earned $0.93 per share, beating estimates, and said it can now see the full $70-plus billion five-year investment plan, with $6 billion already spent this year and 85% of its equity funding need addressed. Big approved spending usually means steady earnings growth.
Confirms the capital plan is funded and on track, the core of the bull case.
Dividend kept steady, board adds airline executive The board declared its usual 59.25-cent quarterly dividend, payable October 20, signaling financial health. It also added Delta president Peter Carter as a director, bringing large-operations experience. Neither changes the story much, but both support confidence in management.
Shows shareholder returns intact and governance steady, a mild positive.
Small Michigan exit frees focus but shrinks footprint Xcel agreed to sell its tiny Michigan gas and electric businesses (about 15,000 customers total) to SEMCO and UPPCO, pending regulator approval. It is a minor cleanup that lets Xcel concentrate spending on bigger territories, but it slightly reduces its customer base.
The only negative-leaning item, though small; shows a real counterweight.

Fortis Inc (FTS)

Q3 202630 Jul – 9 Sep 2026

▲3

Fortis Q2 profit rises, capital plan reaffirmed, US$1B notes priced

Q2 profit and revenue rise Fortis earned C$396 million (C$0.78 a share) in the second quarter, up from C$384 million, as revenue rose 4.1% to C$2.93 billion. Higher sales and rate base growth lift earnings, which supports the dividend and the stock.
The quarter's profit growth is the core new financial result behind the period.
Big five-year building plan reaffirmed Fortis spent C$2.7 billion in the first half and stuck with its C$5.6 billion annual and roughly C$26-28.8 billion five-year construction plans. That spending grows the rate base about 7% a year, which is the main engine for future earnings and 4-6% dividend growth.
The reaffirmed capital plan is the long-term driver of earnings and dividend growth.
Tilbury LNG expansion approved British Columbia approved the Tilbury LNG Phase 1B expansion, costing up to about C$2.2 billion, with construction starting 2027 and service by 2031. It is extra spending beyond the current plan, a new source of future earnings, though it also adds project and cost risk.
The Tilbury approval is a concrete new growth project beyond the existing plan.
US$1 billion debt raised, and valuation debate Fortis priced US$1 billion of long-term notes at 6.6-6.9% interest to repay maturing debt. That adds fixed interest cost but locks in funding for its building program. Meanwhile one analysis claims the shares are 70% below fair value, while analyst estimates call them roughly fairly priced.
The new borrowing and the split valuation views are the remaining fresh items this period.

August 202630 Jul – 9 Sep 2026

▲3

Fortis Q2 profit rises, capital plan reaffirmed, US$1B notes priced

Q2 profit and revenue rise Fortis earned C$396 million (C$0.78 a share) in the second quarter, up from C$384 million, as revenue rose 4.1% to C$2.93 billion. Higher sales and rate base growth lift earnings, which supports the dividend and the stock.
The quarter's profit growth is the core new financial result behind the period.
Big five-year building plan reaffirmed Fortis spent C$2.7 billion in the first half and stuck with its C$5.6 billion annual and roughly C$26-28.8 billion five-year construction plans. That spending grows the rate base about 7% a year, which is the main engine for future earnings and 4-6% dividend growth.
The reaffirmed capital plan is the long-term driver of earnings and dividend growth.
Tilbury LNG expansion approved British Columbia approved the Tilbury LNG Phase 1B expansion, costing up to about C$2.2 billion, with construction starting 2027 and service by 2031. It is extra spending beyond the current plan, a new source of future earnings, though it also adds project and cost risk.
The Tilbury approval is a concrete new growth project beyond the existing plan.
US$1 billion debt raised, and valuation debate Fortis priced US$1 billion of long-term notes at 6.6-6.9% interest to repay maturing debt. That adds fixed interest cost but locks in funding for its building program. Meanwhile one analysis claims the shares are 70% below fair value, while analyst estimates call them roughly fairly priced.
The new borrowing and the split valuation views are the remaining fresh items this period.

Latest30 Jul – 9 Sep 2026

▲3

Fortis Q2 profit rises, capital plan reaffirmed, US$1B notes priced

Q2 profit and revenue rise Fortis earned C$396 million (C$0.78 a share) in the second quarter, up from C$384 million, as revenue rose 4.1% to C$2.93 billion. Higher sales and rate base growth lift earnings, which supports the dividend and the stock.
The quarter's profit growth is the core new financial result behind the period.
Big five-year building plan reaffirmed Fortis spent C$2.7 billion in the first half and stuck with its C$5.6 billion annual and roughly C$26-28.8 billion five-year construction plans. That spending grows the rate base about 7% a year, which is the main engine for future earnings and 4-6% dividend growth.
The reaffirmed capital plan is the long-term driver of earnings and dividend growth.
Tilbury LNG expansion approved British Columbia approved the Tilbury LNG Phase 1B expansion, costing up to about C$2.2 billion, with construction starting 2027 and service by 2031. It is extra spending beyond the current plan, a new source of future earnings, though it also adds project and cost risk.
The Tilbury approval is a concrete new growth project beyond the existing plan.
US$1 billion debt raised, and valuation debate Fortis priced US$1 billion of long-term notes at 6.6-6.9% interest to repay maturing debt. That adds fixed interest cost but locks in funding for its building program. Meanwhile one analysis claims the shares are 70% below fair value, while analyst estimates call them roughly fairly priced.
The new borrowing and the split valuation views are the remaining fresh items this period.